A pilot accused of working with MDMA in his system has been busted smuggling 70,114 ecstasy pills across international borders, authorities say.
The 39-year-old Malaysia Airlines pilot was arrested last week after authorities say he was found to be carrying 57 pounds of illegal drugs at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia.
The pilot was busted only after he landed in Tangerang from a flight that took off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with 170 passengers on board.
Malaysia’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise has since released a video that shows the man, known only by his initials, MSBO, passing through customs before being searched and then detained by officers.
A social media post accompanying the footage said authorities “also seized a small bottle of urine, suspected of being prepared to falsify urine test results if required during the investigation.”
Indonesian National Police said “MS” had been promised the equivalent of $12,200 to take the drugs to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.
According to INP, airport Customs and Excise boss Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang said: “The pilot tested positive for MDMA, ecstasy, methamphetamine and cocaine in his urine test. This means he likely used drugs while flying to Indonesia.”
Malaysia Airlines has condemned its pilot’s alleged actions.
“Malaysia Airlines wishes to reiterate that it does not tolerate any form of misconduct and is currently undertaking an internal review of the matter,” a spokesperson told the Associated Press.
Eko Hadi Santoso, director of narcotics crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, claimed that the pilot admitted it was not the first time he had smuggled drugs.
Santoso said that the pilot told investigators he had once delivered methamphetamine to Sabah, Malaysia, and later transported 15 pounds of methamphetamine to Jakarta. Indonesia has some of the strictest anti-drug trafficking laws in the world, which include the death penalty in some cases.
